Massachusetts police identify missing child, mother in custody: media

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts police have identified the young girl whose body was found stuffed in a trash bag on a beach in Boston Harbor in June and arrested her mother, local media reported on Friday, citing unnamed law-enforcement sources.

The girl, who was named Bella and had initially been described as about 4 years old was actually less than 3, Boston's WHDH television reported. It said the girl's mother had been taken into custody.

A spokesman for Suffolk County prosecutors said the "investigation remains very active," but declined to provide details.

Governor Charlie Baker told reporters he had been briefed on the matter and that state child welfare workers had had contact with the family prior to the girl's disappearance.

"Obviously at this point this is a criminal investigation," Baker said.

The remains were found stuffed in a trash bag on June 25 by a woman who was walking her dog. Police in July launched a billboard campaign featuring a computer-generated image of what the girl may have looked like in life, in hopes of generating leads on her identity.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and David Alexander)